Wexler v City of New York 2024 NY Slip Op 31102(U) April 2, 2024 Supreme Court, New York County Docket Number: Index No. 161521/2023 Judge: Arlene P. Bluth Cases posted with a "30000" identifier, i.e., 2013 NY Slip Op 30001(U), are republished from various New York State and local government sources, including the New York State Unified Court System's eCourts Service. This opinion is uncorrected and not selected for official publication. INDEX NO. 161521/2023 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 109 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/02/2024
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK NEW YORK COUNTY PRESENT: HON. ARLENE P. BLUTH PART 14 Justice ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------X INDEX NO. 161521/2023 LINNEA WEXLER, LINNEA WEXLER, MOTION DATE Petitioner, MOTION SEQ. NO. 003 004 -v- THE CITY OF NEW YORK, NEW YORK CITY FAMILY COURT, NEW YORK FAMILY COURT, BRONX FAMILY COURT, COUNTY OF SUFFOLK, NEW YORK, APPELLATE DIVISION OF THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW YORK, FIRST DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF ATTORNEYS FOR CHILDREN, TOWN OF SOUTHAMPTON, NEW YORK, SOUTHAMPTON TOWN DECISION + ORDER ON POLICE DEPARTMENT, SUFFOLK COUNTY DISTRICT MOTION ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, SOUTHAMPTON TOWN JUSTICE COURT, SOUTHAMPTON TOWN ATTORNEYS, NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL CONDUCT, ATTORNEY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE, FIRST JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT, GIGI N. PARRIS, ASHLEY MULLIN,
Respondents. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------X
The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document number (Motion 003) 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90 were read on this motion to/for JUDGMENT - DEFAULT .
The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document number (Motion 004) 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 85, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 107 were read on this motion to/for DISMISS .
Motion Sequence Numbers 003 and 004 are consolidated for disposition. Petitioner’s
motion (MS003) for a default judgment against respondents Town of Southampton, New York,
Southampton Town Police Department, Southampton Town Justice Court and Southampton
Town Attorneys, (collectively, the “Southampton Respondents”) is denied and these
respondents’ cross-motion for leave to file a late response to the petition is granted. The
Southampton Respondents’ motion (MS004) to dismiss is granted. 161521/2023 WEXLER, LINNEA ET AL vs. THE CITY OF NEW YORK ET AL Page 1 of 5 Motion No. 003 004
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Background
This Article 78 proceeding arises out of a Family Court dispute between petitioner and
her former partner; petitioner insists that they were never married but that they share a daughter.
She claims in that in March 2020, her former partner filed for a temporary order of protection
based on false pretenses in order to remove the child from her. She observes that she is currently
in the middle of litigation with her former partner over the custody of their daughter and insists
that her former partner has access to tremendous resources through his law firm. Petitioner
objects to various orders that, according to her, have resulted in her not being able to see her
child (except for a few days) since March 1, 2023.
She makes numerous allegations against respondents that, basically, they have all
condoned and reinforced the alleged fraud committed by her former partner on the courts. In
addition to taking issue with many of the events in her custody litigation, petitioner also decries
the state of Family Court in New York. She seeks, among many claims for relief, “a mistrial” of
the Family Court case, at least $1 million from each of the respondents for various criminal acts,
that the Family Court case be transferred to a different judge, and an order of protection against
the judge and her court attorney. Petitioner insists that each of the many temporary orders of
protection is illegal and violates the Family Court Act. She complains that sealed records were
used in violation of the criminal code .
In motion sequence 003, petitioner seeks a default judgment against the Southampton
Respondents. She observes that they were all served with the commencing papers on December
5, 2023 but they did not timely answer or otherwise appear. She demands that two attorneys for
the Town of Southampton be referred for criminal prosecution and to the appropriate attorney
grievance committee. Petitioner also seeks an award of at least $1 million in damages “for each
161521/2023 WEXLER, LINNEA ET AL vs. THE CITY OF NEW YORK ET AL Page 2 of 5 Motion No. 003 004
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and every violation of Article 78 by [the] Southampton Respondents” as well as at least $1
million in damages for inter alia being deprived of her parental rights and the criminal actions of
the Southampton Respondents.
The Southampton Respondents cross-move for leave to serve a late response to the
petition and make a separate motion (in MS004) to dismiss this proceeding. They explain that
after receiving the commencing papers, they sent them to an insurance carrier. The Southampton
Respondents observe that the insurance carrier denied coverage but the email expressing this
position was not properly labeled and so they did not realize that the carrier had declined to
provide a defense. They admit they were in default but insist that they quickly moved to appear
in this proceeding.
In support of their motion to dismiss, the Southampton Respondents contend that
petitioner’s only allegations against them relate to their production of petitioner’s arrest records
in response to a so-ordered subpoena and that the arresting officer testified at a Family Court
appearance. They contend that the production of documents and the testimony from a witness
(the arresting officer) pursuant to judicial subpoenas do not constitute the basis for a cognizable
cause of action as they were simply following the subpoena. The Southampton Respondents also
point out that they produced these records in August 2021 and so this portion of petitioner’s
claim is time-barred. They point out that petitioner’s criminal case was not dismissed (and
therefore not sealed) until April 2023, long after they responded to the document subpoena. The
Southampton Respondents question why petitioner did not move to quash these subpoenas.
Petitioner insists the Southampton Respondents turned over sealed records in violation of
various criminal statutes and that they “illegally testified” during a custody hearing before
161521/2023 WEXLER, LINNEA ET AL vs. THE CITY OF NEW YORK ET AL Page 3 of 5 Motion No. 003 004
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Family Court. Petitioner claims that she objected to the use of these sealed records at the
custody trial and that her requests were denied.
Discussion
Preliminarily, the Court observes that petitioner cannot bring claims on behalf of her
infant daughter as she does not have custody of her child (CPLR 1201). In fact, this proceeding
appears to have arisen, largely, out of petitioner’s claims that she was wrongfully deprived of the
custody of her daughter during proceedings in Family Court.
The Court denies petitioner’s motion for a default judgment. The Southampton
Respondents cited a reasonable excuse for their failure to timely appear in this proceeding as the
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Wexler v City of New York 2024 NY Slip Op 31102(U) April 2, 2024 Supreme Court, New York County Docket Number: Index No. 161521/2023 Judge: Arlene P. Bluth Cases posted with a "30000" identifier, i.e., 2013 NY Slip Op 30001(U), are republished from various New York State and local government sources, including the New York State Unified Court System's eCourts Service. This opinion is uncorrected and not selected for official publication. INDEX NO. 161521/2023 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 109 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/02/2024
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK NEW YORK COUNTY PRESENT: HON. ARLENE P. BLUTH PART 14 Justice ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------X INDEX NO. 161521/2023 LINNEA WEXLER, LINNEA WEXLER, MOTION DATE Petitioner, MOTION SEQ. NO. 003 004 -v- THE CITY OF NEW YORK, NEW YORK CITY FAMILY COURT, NEW YORK FAMILY COURT, BRONX FAMILY COURT, COUNTY OF SUFFOLK, NEW YORK, APPELLATE DIVISION OF THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW YORK, FIRST DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF ATTORNEYS FOR CHILDREN, TOWN OF SOUTHAMPTON, NEW YORK, SOUTHAMPTON TOWN DECISION + ORDER ON POLICE DEPARTMENT, SUFFOLK COUNTY DISTRICT MOTION ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, SOUTHAMPTON TOWN JUSTICE COURT, SOUTHAMPTON TOWN ATTORNEYS, NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL CONDUCT, ATTORNEY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE, FIRST JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT, GIGI N. PARRIS, ASHLEY MULLIN,
Respondents. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------X
The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document number (Motion 003) 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90 were read on this motion to/for JUDGMENT - DEFAULT .
The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document number (Motion 004) 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 85, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 107 were read on this motion to/for DISMISS .
Motion Sequence Numbers 003 and 004 are consolidated for disposition. Petitioner’s
motion (MS003) for a default judgment against respondents Town of Southampton, New York,
Southampton Town Police Department, Southampton Town Justice Court and Southampton
Town Attorneys, (collectively, the “Southampton Respondents”) is denied and these
respondents’ cross-motion for leave to file a late response to the petition is granted. The
Southampton Respondents’ motion (MS004) to dismiss is granted. 161521/2023 WEXLER, LINNEA ET AL vs. THE CITY OF NEW YORK ET AL Page 1 of 5 Motion No. 003 004
1 of 5 [* 1] INDEX NO. 161521/2023 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 109 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/02/2024
Background
This Article 78 proceeding arises out of a Family Court dispute between petitioner and
her former partner; petitioner insists that they were never married but that they share a daughter.
She claims in that in March 2020, her former partner filed for a temporary order of protection
based on false pretenses in order to remove the child from her. She observes that she is currently
in the middle of litigation with her former partner over the custody of their daughter and insists
that her former partner has access to tremendous resources through his law firm. Petitioner
objects to various orders that, according to her, have resulted in her not being able to see her
child (except for a few days) since March 1, 2023.
She makes numerous allegations against respondents that, basically, they have all
condoned and reinforced the alleged fraud committed by her former partner on the courts. In
addition to taking issue with many of the events in her custody litigation, petitioner also decries
the state of Family Court in New York. She seeks, among many claims for relief, “a mistrial” of
the Family Court case, at least $1 million from each of the respondents for various criminal acts,
that the Family Court case be transferred to a different judge, and an order of protection against
the judge and her court attorney. Petitioner insists that each of the many temporary orders of
protection is illegal and violates the Family Court Act. She complains that sealed records were
used in violation of the criminal code .
In motion sequence 003, petitioner seeks a default judgment against the Southampton
Respondents. She observes that they were all served with the commencing papers on December
5, 2023 but they did not timely answer or otherwise appear. She demands that two attorneys for
the Town of Southampton be referred for criminal prosecution and to the appropriate attorney
grievance committee. Petitioner also seeks an award of at least $1 million in damages “for each
161521/2023 WEXLER, LINNEA ET AL vs. THE CITY OF NEW YORK ET AL Page 2 of 5 Motion No. 003 004
2 of 5 [* 2] INDEX NO. 161521/2023 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 109 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/02/2024
and every violation of Article 78 by [the] Southampton Respondents” as well as at least $1
million in damages for inter alia being deprived of her parental rights and the criminal actions of
the Southampton Respondents.
The Southampton Respondents cross-move for leave to serve a late response to the
petition and make a separate motion (in MS004) to dismiss this proceeding. They explain that
after receiving the commencing papers, they sent them to an insurance carrier. The Southampton
Respondents observe that the insurance carrier denied coverage but the email expressing this
position was not properly labeled and so they did not realize that the carrier had declined to
provide a defense. They admit they were in default but insist that they quickly moved to appear
in this proceeding.
In support of their motion to dismiss, the Southampton Respondents contend that
petitioner’s only allegations against them relate to their production of petitioner’s arrest records
in response to a so-ordered subpoena and that the arresting officer testified at a Family Court
appearance. They contend that the production of documents and the testimony from a witness
(the arresting officer) pursuant to judicial subpoenas do not constitute the basis for a cognizable
cause of action as they were simply following the subpoena. The Southampton Respondents also
point out that they produced these records in August 2021 and so this portion of petitioner’s
claim is time-barred. They point out that petitioner’s criminal case was not dismissed (and
therefore not sealed) until April 2023, long after they responded to the document subpoena. The
Southampton Respondents question why petitioner did not move to quash these subpoenas.
Petitioner insists the Southampton Respondents turned over sealed records in violation of
various criminal statutes and that they “illegally testified” during a custody hearing before
161521/2023 WEXLER, LINNEA ET AL vs. THE CITY OF NEW YORK ET AL Page 3 of 5 Motion No. 003 004
3 of 5 [* 3] INDEX NO. 161521/2023 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 109 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/02/2024
Family Court. Petitioner claims that she objected to the use of these sealed records at the
custody trial and that her requests were denied.
Discussion
Preliminarily, the Court observes that petitioner cannot bring claims on behalf of her
infant daughter as she does not have custody of her child (CPLR 1201). In fact, this proceeding
appears to have arisen, largely, out of petitioner’s claims that she was wrongfully deprived of the
custody of her daughter during proceedings in Family Court.
The Court denies petitioner’s motion for a default judgment. The Southampton
Respondents cited a reasonable excuse for their failure to timely appear in this proceeding as the
email they received from their insurance carrier that included the denial did not reference the
denial in the body or subject line of the email (NYSCEF Doc. No. 81, ¶ 6). In any event, the
Court must adhere to “the strong public policy preference for deciding cases on the merits”
(Rosario v General Behr Corp., 217 AD3d 641, 642, 192 NYS3d 122).
And, on the merits, the Court finds that petitioner failed to state a cognizable cause of
action against the Southampton Respondents. That the Southampton Respondents turned over
documents and sent a witness for a Family Court hearing pursuant to a so-ordered subpoena is
not a basis for a cause of action. As they point out, petitioner should have sought to quash the
subpoena; petitioner claims she raised objections at the Family Court appearance and her claims
were denied.
Of course, that raises another fundamental issue with the instant proceeding. The proper
method to raise objections to decisions in Family Court is to pursue an appeal of those
determinations. It is not appropriate to directly sue these respondents and seek millions in
damages based on dissatisfaction with the Family Court litigation. And the Court observes that
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an issue arising out of that Family Court proceeding went up on appeal (see e.g., Matthew P. v
Linnea W., 197 AD3d 1070, 1070 [1st Dept 2021] [an appeal involving the custody case about
which petitioner complains]).
As the Court stressed in the decision issued in motion sequence numbers 001 and 002,
petitioner is clearly upset with the decisions issued in the aforementioned Family Court
proceeding. But that apparent frustration is not a basis to sue nearly every entity and person
involved with that dispute. The Southampton Respondents, at least on this record, merely
complied with two subpoenas. That is not a basis for an Article 78 proceeding nor is it grounds
to award petitioner millions of dollars in damages.
Accordingly, it is hereby
ORDERED that petitioner’s motion (MS003) for a default judgment is denied and the
cross-motion by respondents Town of Southampton, New York, Southampton Town Police
Department, Southampton Town Justice Court and Southampton Town Attorneys for leave to
file a belated response to the petition is granted; and it is further
ORDERED that the motion by respondents Town of Southampton, New York,
Southampton Town Police Department, Southampton Town Justice Court and Southampton
Town Attorneys to dismiss (MS004) the petition is granted; and it is further
ADJUDGED that the petition is denied in its entirety and this proceeding is dismissed
without costs or disbursements.
4/2/2024 $SIG$ DATE ARLENE P. BLUTH, J.S.C. CHECK ONE: X CASE DISPOSED NON-FINAL DISPOSITION
GRANTED DENIED GRANTED IN PART X OTHER
APPLICATION: SETTLE ORDER SUBMIT ORDER
CHECK IF APPROPRIATE: INCLUDES TRANSFER/REASSIGN FIDUCIARY APPOINTMENT REFERENCE
161521/2023 WEXLER, LINNEA ET AL vs. THE CITY OF NEW YORK ET AL Page 5 of 5 Motion No. 003 004
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